MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Belhaven University softball team split their Thursday doubleheader at Huntingdon College in non-conference play.
The Blazers took care of business in the first game winning 7-5, but dropped game two in a close 4-3 loss.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game one - Belhaven 7, Huntingdon 5| Game two - Huntingdon 4, Belhaven 3
Records: Belhaven - 2-2, Huntingdon - 1-3
Location: Â Montgomery, Ala. |
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HOW IT HAPPENED
-Game one
- Just like in the LaGrange doubleheader, Belhaven got going quickly offensively.
- The Blazers scored two runs in the top of the first off of RBI singles from Marlee Blackwell and Cassidy Comstock to hold a 2-0 lead.
- The Blazers' bats continued to roll into the fourth inning where they added three more runs. The scoring started with an RBI double from Makayla Reed, which scored Kaitlyn Blubaugh.
- Moments later, Cassidy Blount and Blackwell would connect on back-to-back RBI singles which produced a 5-0 advantage.
- The Blazer defense and pitcher Jordan Self kept Huntingdon scoreless through the first five innings of action.
- The Hawks made a late rally in the bottom half of the six as they scored three runs to cut the lead down to 5-3.
- However, the Blazers would get two huge insurance runs in the top of the seventh off of RBI hits from Reed and Brianna Dollar to increase the lead back out to 7-3.
- Huntingdon scored two runs again in the seventh to threaten the Blazers' lead, but Blubaugh would record the final out of the game sent a fly ball out near the warning track in left field.
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- Game two
- The Blazers once again jumped out to an early lead thanks to two quick runs scored in the top of the first.
- Makayla Reed continued to impress from the plate with a two RBI single up the middle which would score Meg Garton and Blubaugh for a 2-0 lead.
- But just like in the second game at LaGrange, the Blazers' offense would stall for the next five innings.
- Belhaven had opportunities to bring runners home but were unable to as they left seven runners stranded throughout the course of the game.
- The Hawks would tie the game up in the bottom of the second off of a two-run home run, and then would take the lead at 3-2 later on in the inning off of a RBI double.
- Huntingdon scored twice more in the fourth to double up the lead at 4-2.
- Belhaven had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and cut the lead down to 4-3 after Reed was hit by a pitch to advance all the runners.
- With two outs and the bases stacked, the Green and Gold had a chance to get the lead back, but the game would end on a fielder's choice on a ground ball to third base. Â
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KEY STATISTICS
- Game one
- Jordan Self improved to 2-0 on the season and tossed her second complete game of the 2018 season.
- Kaitlyn Blubaugh and Marlee Blackwell both posted 3-4 performances from the plate. Blubaugh also collected one RBI and scored one run, while Blackwell notched two RBI.
- Makayla Reed finished the game 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
- Brianna Dollar registered a 2-2 performance from the plate.
- Belhaven finished the first game with a total of 16 hits.
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- Game two
- Whitney Jemison went perfect from the plate going 3-3 with three singles.
- Makayla Reed tallied three RBI giving her five total throughout the doubleheader.
- Meg Garton finished 1-3 from the plate and scored a run.
- BU was held to just five hits.
- Mariah Sosa got the start in game two and pitched 3.1 innings. Sosa struck out one batter and Jordan Self pitched the final 2.2 innings of relief.
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UP NEXT
Belhaven is set to host UT Dallas this weekend at McLeod Field for their first home games of the 2018 season.
For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
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